Becker F3

On the balance sheet, marketable securities classified as trading or available-for-sale are valued...

At fair value

On the balance sheet, marketable securities classified as held-to-maturity are valued...

At amortized cost

How are unrealized losses/gains on trading securities recognized?

Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are recognized on the income statement.

How are unrealized losses/gains on available-for-sale securities recognized?

Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported in other comprehensive income.

Note: Under IFRS, foreign exchange gains and losses on AFS debt securities are reported on the income statement.

List three conditions where losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale are recognized in income.

Sale of security

Transfer of the security to trading classification

Permanent decline of individual security below cost

When a marketable equity security is transferred from trading to available-for-sale or vice versa, at what cost is it transferred?

- Transferred at fair value, which then becomes new basis.

- For a security transferred into the trading category, the difference is treated as a realized gain or loss and is recognized on the income statement.

- For a security transferred from the trading category, the unrealized holding gain or loss will already have been recognized in earnings.

Note: Transfers to and from the trading category should be rare.

How are gains and losses on financial instruments that hedge trading securities reported?

Reported in earnings, consistent with reporting unrealized gains and losses on trading securities.

How are gains and losses on financial instruments that hedge available-for-sale securities reported?

Reported in earnings together with the offsetting losses or gains on the available-for-sale securities attributable to the hedged risk.

What disclosures should be made for available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities?

Aggregate fair value,

Gross unrealized holding gains and losses,

Amortized cost basis by type,

Information about the contractual maturity of debt securities.

State the criteria to consolidate subsidiaries.

Consolidate when the parent is able to control the subsidiary. Usually this is indicated by greater than 50% ownership of the voting stock of the subsidiary.

Do not consolidate when control is not with owners (as in bankruptcy of subsidiary).

Identify the three levels of control and the appropriate accounting method for each.

No significant influence

Trading or available-for-sale securities, at fair value

Significant influence but 50% or less ownership

Equity method

Control

- Cost or equity method (internal accounting)

- Consolidated financial statements (external reporting)

How is the year-end "investment in investee" reported on the balance sheet calculated under the equity method?

Beginning investment in investee

+ Investor's share of investee earnings

- Investor's share of investee dividends

- Amortization of FV differences

Ending investment in investee

How is an investor's equity method investment reported on the income statement?

Investor's share of investee earnings

- Amortization of FV differences

Equity in earnings / investee income

How are joint ventures accounted for under IFRS and U.S. GAAP?

U.S. GAAP

Equity method

IFRS

Equity method or proportionate consolidation

In a step-by-step acquisition, what is the accounting treatment when significant influence is acquired?

Going from the cost method to the equity method is handled like a change in accounting principle - retroactively.

Go back retroactively with the equity method but not with the new ownership percentage.

Prior period financial statements are restated.

When are consolidated financial statements prepared?

When the parent company has control over the subsidiary company. Control is achieved when more than 50% of the voting stock of the subsidiary is owned directly or indirectly by the parent and no other factors are present that would indicate a lack of control (bankruptcy, reorganization).

In Acquisition Accounting, state the consolidating workpaper elimination entry.

CARINBIG

Dr. Common stock - Subsidiary

Dr. APIC - Subsidiary

Dr. Retained earnings - Subsidiary

Cr. Investment in subsidiary

Cr. Noncontrolling interest

Dr. Balance sheet adjustments to fair value

Dr. Identifiable intangible assets to fair value

Dr. Goodwill

How are expenses relating to the combination treated under the acquisition method?

Direct out-of-pocket costs are expensed.

Stock related costs are a reduction in value of the stock issued (normally a debit to additional paid-in-capital).

Indirect costs are expensed.

Bond issue costs are capitalized and amortized.

In an acquisition, how are acquired indentifiable intangible assets amortized?

- Goodwill is the excess of the fair value of the subsidiary (acquisitioin cost plus noncontrolling interest) over the fair value of the subsidiary's net assets, including identifiable intangible assets at FV.

How is noncontrolling interest (balance sheet) calculated under U.S. GAAP?

NCI = FV of subsidiary x NCI %

How is noncontrolling interest (balance sheet) calculated under IFRS?

IFRS permits the use of the full goodwill method or the partial goodwill method.

Full Goodwill Method (same as U.S. GAAP)

NCI = FV of subsidiary x NCI %

Partial Goodwill Method

NCI = FV of subsidiary net assets x NCI %

How is noncontrolling interest on the income statement calculated?

Subsidiary net income

x Noncontrolling interest %

NCI in net income

In a business combination, what is the treatment of an acquisition in which the acquisition cost is less than the fair value of 100% of the net assets acquired?

The acquisition cost is allocated to the fair value of the 100% balance sheet accounts and the fair value of 100% of the identifiable intangible assets. This creates a negative balance in the acquisition account, which is recorded as a gain.

Reports assets and liabilities at fair value in separate financial statements of subsidiary. In effect, consolidation adjustments are "pushed down" into the records.

- Assets and liabilities are adjusted to fair market value at date of acquisition.

- Retained earnings of the subsidiary are transferred to paid-in capital.

- Net income of each subsidiary includes depreciation, amortization, and interest expense based on fair values rather than historical cost.

- The SEC requires push down accounting for each "substantially wholly-owned subsidiary."

What is a variable interest entity (VIE)?

A corporation, partnership, trust, LLC or other legal structure used for business purposes that either does not have equity investors with voting rights or lacks sufficient financial resources to support its activities.

Who is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and how does the primary beneficiary account for its VIE investment?

The entity with the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and:

1. Absorbs the expected VIE losses, or

2. Receives the expected VIE residual returns.

The primary beneficiary must consolidate the VIE.

Who consolidates when one entity receives the expected returns from a VIE and another entity absorbs the expected losses?